Method and apparatus for three dimensional viewing of images

Abstract

A method, apparatus and computer program product for three-dimensional viewing of images is presented. Embodiments of the invention provide a process for combining slices generated by medical imaging devices to create a volume of interest and then present this volume in a three-dimensional representation to a head display unit so that the user can obtain a holistic view of the patient. Key image processing techniques are applied which enable the user to rotate and view the volume of interest from alternative viewpoints; to enable tissue subtraction to facilitate unobstructed viewing of a region of interest; to identify differing tissues with color schematics; to zoom in for optimal viewing; and to view a moving image of a volume of interest.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 generating a three-dimensional image space or volume from a plurality of two-dimensional radiological image slices; 
 generating a three-dimensional cursor that has a non-zero volume; 
 displaying the three-dimensional cursor in the three-dimensional medical image space or volume; 
 responsive to a first input, moving said three-dimensional cursor within the three-dimensional medical image space or volume; and 
 responsive to a second input, selecting portions of the two-dimensional radiological image slices corresponding to the volume of the three-dimensional cursor for further processing. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the three-dimensional cursor has a color and a size, and further comprising modifying at least one of the color of the cursor and the size of the cursor in response to input. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1  further comprising moving the three-dimensional cursor to a specific sub-volume of interest of the three-dimensional medical image space or volume. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  further comprising removing or extracting all tissue outside of the volume of the three-dimensional cursor. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1  further comprising rotating said three-dimensional cursor around a center of said three-dimensional cursor. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1  further comprising counting a number of voxels of specific tissue densities within the volume of said three-dimensional cursor. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1  further comprising converging focus of each of a set of eyes at a center point of the volume of the three-dimensional cursor or other tissues of interest within said three-dimensional cursor. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1  further comprising using head tracking associated with a head display unit to change to a current centerline of focus of each of a set of eyes to view tissues away from the current centerline of focus for each of the eyes. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 1  further comprising invoking feedback to a user regarding properties at a center of the volume of the three-dimensional cursor, wherein said feedback is selected from the group consisting of auditory feedback, visual feedback, and tactile feedback. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1  further comprising displaying an icon showing a location of viewing points and a location of the three-dimensional cursor within content of the three-dimensional medical image space or volume. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1  further comprising displaying arrows depicting cardinal directions. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 1  further comprising applying, to a sub-volume of interest contained within the three-dimensional cursor, an image processing technique selected from the group consisting of contrast enhancement, edge detection/sharpening, and smoothing. 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1  further comprising saving data pertaining to the volume of the three-dimensional cursor. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 1  further comprising displaying data pertaining to the volume of the three-dimensional cursor. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 1  further comprising designating key features within the three-dimensional medical image space or volume as reference points. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 1  further comprising registering volumes generated by secondary and subsequent imaging sessions with respect to a volume obtained during an initial imaging session. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 1  further comprising superimposing a newly acquired volume contained in the three-dimensional cursor over a previously acquired volume contained in the three-dimensional cursor. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 1  further comprising invoking image processing on superimposed images, the image processing selected from the group consisting of subtraction of the original volume as contained in the original three-dimensional cursor from the newly acquired volume as contained in the newly generated three-dimensional cursor, subtraction of the newly acquired volume as contained in the newly acquired three-dimensional cursor from the original acquired volume as contained in the original generated three-dimensional cursor, automatically enumerating the difference in the number of voxels of specific tissue densities resulting from the above volume subtraction; highlighting changes between original volume as contained in the original three-dimensional cursor and the newly acquired volume as contained in the newly generated three-dimensional cursor. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 1  further comprising recording and displaying data generated and resultant from superimposition of a newly acquired volume contained in the three-dimensional cursor over a previously acquired volume contained in the three-dimensional cursor. 
     
     
       20. A method comprising:
 generating a three-dimensional image space or volume from a plurality of two-dimensional radiological image slices; 
 generating a three-dimensional cursor that has a non-zero volume; 
 displaying the three-dimensional cursor in the three-dimensional medical image space or volume; 
 responsive to a first input, moving said three-dimensional cursor within the three-dimensional medical image space or volume; and 
 responsive to a second input, constructing a custom object by:
 delineating a volume of interest, comprising selecting portions of the two-dimensional radiological image slices corresponding to the volume of the three-dimensional cursor for further processing; 
 subtracting tissue which is not of interest; 
 applying a smoothing process to eliminate irregular edges of voxels in the volume; and 
 passing the resulting volume to computerized manufacturing. 
 
 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 20  wherein said custom objects are selected from the group comprising joints, valves, organs, and other body parts.